[greymule]

Valid points, Pete. Almost every league I do (from fourth- and fifth-grade girls' softball to men's baseball) has its own house rules. Off the top of my head:

1. Runners can steal third only, not second or home.
2. No stealing home, but if the catcher or pitcher tries a pick-off then the runner can go for home.
3. Start with 9, add the 10th when he comes.
4. Start with 9, 10th is a sub when he comes UNLESS he gets there before his first at bat.
5. You can steal, but only one base at a time--no advancing past the base stolen on overthrows.
6. Ball goes in the muddy part of the field, ground rule double. Ball goes OVER the muddy part, in play.
7. You can leave on the release, but it's a FORCE play if they throw to pick you off after the pitch.
8. Ball gets back to the pitcher, runners not halfway have to go back.
9. Courtesy runner for anyone at any time.
10. Three courtesy runners per game, coach chooses when.
11. Men hit large ball, women hit a smaller ball.
12. The tree in center field is considered "air"—catch a ball out of the branches, it's an out.
13. DBT line is for throws only. You can go catch anything and throw from DBT.
14. Everybody bats; no penalty if somebody leaves.
15. No double-wall bats.
16. Ball stays under the cars, double. Goes under and through past the cars, in play.

It goes on and on, and they're all OK with me, EXCEPT where there might be trouble, like "the runner must slide on a close play." I disabuse them of that one right away. If the house rule doesn't involve safety, let them do it. That being said, about that #16 . . .